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Monday, 15 April 2019

Updating Alumni Records

I get a specific caller once a year about updating my alumni profile at the University where I acquired my combined degree.

I often ignore these phone calls entirely. I don't think I have actually updated my record for at least two years, maybe longer.
This is mostly because of how the conversation usually goes. There are only a few main questions that they focus on, and the answers to those questions are not what they would like to hear... those answers also have not changed since the last time I updated this profile.
It isn't so much that I am ashamed of the answers, it is more that my situation should not affect the statistics they are after.

Some of the questions include:

• Are you using your degree in any way?
• Are you currently working in any capacity?
• Do you feel that your degree prepared you for the workforce?

I have a Combined Degree in Music and Psychology.
The answer to the first and last question are both a resounding yes. My music degree I use every day when I am singing or practicing piano. The psychology portion of my degree is not currently being used because I could not continue with a Masters.
The fact, though, that I am not currently employed, nor have I been since only two years after graduating sounds awful.

The reason I don't like being a part of their statistic evaluation is that being unable to work has nothing to do with the type of degree I chose. If I could work; if I was not ill, not only would I be teaching singing lessons among other musical endeavors, I likely WOULD have pursued a Masters or even gone further than that. I WOULD be using both portions of my degree on a daily basis.

So, it is not that I am ashamed of the answers. It is that my answers would be placed in this little box of "unusable degrees" instead of adding more information. My health complications have been beyond my control. They have been beyond any degree. I could have had pre-med education or even vocational training and still be unemployed - because it has everything to do with physical limitations.

On one hand, I feel guilty for not helping to update their records. On the other hand, I do not want my answers to put me in the 'failure' category when all I want to do is work and use my degree in any way possible.

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